This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/us/politics/inaugural-balls.html
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Inaugural Balls: Awaiting the Trumps’ First Dance | Inaugural Balls: Awaiting the Trumps’ First Dance |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — President Trump and his wife, Melania, are making their debut as the first couple at three official inaugural balls on Friday night, after an Inauguration Day full of celebrations — and protests. | WASHINGTON — President Trump and his wife, Melania, are making their debut as the first couple at three official inaugural balls on Friday night, after an Inauguration Day full of celebrations — and protests. |
| The divisiveness of the campaign will be an afterthought inside the galas. Two of the balls, the Freedom Ball and the Liberty Ball, will both be attended by supporters who donated to the inauguration or purchased tickets, and will be live-streamed online. They both take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. | The divisiveness of the campaign will be an afterthought inside the galas. Two of the balls, the Freedom Ball and the Liberty Ball, will both be attended by supporters who donated to the inauguration or purchased tickets, and will be live-streamed online. They both take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. |
| The third ball is the hotter ticket: A Salute to Our Armed Services, at the National Building Museum, will feature active duty and reserve military members, wounded veterans, emergency medical workers and Medal of Honor recipients. | The third ball is the hotter ticket: A Salute to Our Armed Services, at the National Building Museum, will feature active duty and reserve military members, wounded veterans, emergency medical workers and Medal of Honor recipients. |
| Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, will also attend all three events. | Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, will also attend all three events. |
| We’re party-hopping tonight to give you a look at the festivities. | We’re party-hopping tonight to give you a look at the festivities. |
| 6:05 p.m.: Mr. Trump and his inauguration team have had trouble locking in A-list celebrities for the festivities, and have made it a point to say they didn’t want them to attend in the first place. | 6:05 p.m.: Mr. Trump and his inauguration team have had trouble locking in A-list celebrities for the festivities, and have made it a point to say they didn’t want them to attend in the first place. |
| Performers include Sam Moore, one half of the ’60s R&B and soul duo Sam & Dave, and The Piano Guys. Both acts performed at a welcome concert for Mr. Trump on Thursday. The armed services ball will feature a performance by the singer Tony Orlando and the Texas musician Josh Weathers. | Performers include Sam Moore, one half of the ’60s R&B and soul duo Sam & Dave, and The Piano Guys. Both acts performed at a welcome concert for Mr. Trump on Thursday. The armed services ball will feature a performance by the singer Tony Orlando and the Texas musician Josh Weathers. |
| One question: What will the Trumps choose as their first dance as president and first lady? Stay tuned. | One question: What will the Trumps choose as their first dance as president and first lady? Stay tuned. |
| 6:55 p.m.: The idea of an inaugural ball might sound fun, but let’s talk about how hard it is to actually get into these events. Guests have to walk several blocks through a labyrinth of security fences, road barriers and a human wall of police officers dressed in riot gear in front of the convention center. (Several women are cursing their decision to wear high heels.) | 6:55 p.m.: The idea of an inaugural ball might sound fun, but let’s talk about how hard it is to actually get into these events. Guests have to walk several blocks through a labyrinth of security fences, road barriers and a human wall of police officers dressed in riot gear in front of the convention center. (Several women are cursing their decision to wear high heels.) |
| Empty city buses and garbage trucks are establishing a loose perimeter around the convention center. They are likely parked here to safeguard against bomb blasts. | Empty city buses and garbage trucks are establishing a loose perimeter around the convention center. They are likely parked here to safeguard against bomb blasts. |
| At the end of the long lines, a set of metal detectors await. | At the end of the long lines, a set of metal detectors await. |
| It’s hard to keep a festive mood with the sounds of helicopters flying low overhead and the sight of the occasional protester with signs that read “resist extermination,” but these revelers are managing to do it somehow. | It’s hard to keep a festive mood with the sounds of helicopters flying low overhead and the sight of the occasional protester with signs that read “resist extermination,” but these revelers are managing to do it somehow. |
| “Trump’s going to be here, it’s a great day, let’s enjoy it,” a woman said as she joined the line of people waiting to get into the Freedom Ball. | “Trump’s going to be here, it’s a great day, let’s enjoy it,” a woman said as she joined the line of people waiting to get into the Freedom Ball. |
| 7:51 p.m.: Things are in full swing at the Freedom Ball, where the festivities were supposed to begin around 8 p.m. Attendees are enjoying a buffet of pasta and rolls. | 7:51 p.m.: Things are in full swing at the Freedom Ball, where the festivities were supposed to begin around 8 p.m. Attendees are enjoying a buffet of pasta and rolls. |
| After a $20 glass of champagne (cash bar), we’re ready to mingle. | After a $20 glass of champagne (cash bar), we’re ready to mingle. |
| If there’s one big fashion theme emerging, it’s that these revelers enjoy their sequins. One ballgoer, 26-year-old Ashley Walukevich, chose a dress with silver sequins and embellishments down the sleeves after searching for a week for the right look. She posed with a friend, Lauren Hodge, who chose a dress made of black velvet and lace. | |
| Aside from trying to hail an Uber driver who got trapped by protesters, Ms. Walukevich said the protests around Washington haven’t bothered her. “I wanted to come out to celebrate our country coming together,” she said, “and to celebrate our new president.” | |
| 8 p.m.: The concert at the Freedom Ball has started. | |
| The singer Tim Rushlow, who performed as part of the Frontmen of Country at the “Make America Great Again” concert on Thursday, appeared with His Big Band to the convention center. | |
| He opened the show by heralding a “landslide victory and an amazing time for our president.” (Mr. Trump has also called his victory a landslide, despite losing the popular vote.) | |
| The swing jazz group opened with Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life,” a melancholy hit about persevering though life’s ups and downs. | |
| As Sinatra said, “I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king.” | |
| Mr. Trump would disagree. | |
| 8:23 p.m.: With two balls in one building, and with guests at one ball separated from guests at the other, acts were performing both on stage and on large screens. At the Freedom Ball, The Piano Guys, introduced as “four musical dads from Utah,” played covers of pop music songs, including Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song.” | |
| While The Piano Guys played on stage, a squad of 18 Rockettes danced on screen (with the sound muted), dressed in gold-sequined outfits and glittery tights. | |
| This company of women had been at the center of a media firestorm since December when the Madison Square Garden Co., the group that manages them, committed the dancers to perform at the inauguration, even though some members dissented. | |
| At the ball, however, the women performed with their trademark precision. Their smiles, of course, were huge. |